Coloration of aramid fabric via in-situ biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles with enhanced antibacterial effect

This work has found innovative multicolored and antibacterial effects on aramid fabrics through an in-situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) without using any toxic reagents. Chitosan was only used as a renewable reducing and stabilizing agent. As-synthesized products were studied in terms of surface plasmon resonance (SPR), morphology, elemental mapping, metal composition, as well as the chemical interaction between compositing constituents. Results revealed that the particles are mostly in spherical shapes, uniformly dispersed and tightly attached to the aramid surface by molecular force or double network developed by chitosan. The treated fabrics also revealed improved thermal resistivity and sustainable color properties in terms of color uniformity, strength (K/S), and fastness ratings. They also have demonstrated excellent antibacterial action with more than 99% bacterial reduction efficiency against both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) even after 10 washing cycles. Overall, this technique of aramid treatment could be a benchmark for sustainable multicolored and durable antibacterial performances in a more sustainable way